crandall



(No Model.) 3 shea hs-Sheet 1.

L. S. ORANDALL.

DRIVING GEAR.

Patented Mar. 1 1898.

Wz'ineswe 32' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. S. C1RANDALL.

DRIVING GEAR.

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L Mm A DE G G Rm 0V I 3 SD L Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

mien? combination.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

'LUOIEN STEPHEN CRANDALL, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

DRIVING-G EAR.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,689, dated March 1, 1898.

Application filed May 24, 1897. serial No. 637,942. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUOIEN STEPHEN CRAN- DALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 62 Moor street, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Driving- Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements in driving-gear for cycles and other-machines,- my object being to provide simple and efficient means for the transmission of power and to so arrange the same that the ratio between the speeds of the driving and driven parts can be very readily and conveniently.

varied.

In order that my invention may be the more readily understood, I append hereunto three sheets of explanatory drawings, to be hereinafter referred to. j

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle fitted with my improved driving-gear. Figs. 4: to 13, inclusive, are illustrations, to a larger scale,-of the details of my improved drivinggear. Fig. 2 is a side elevatiom'and'Fig. 3 an end elevation,representing my gear in one combination. Figs. 4 and 4 are sectional views illustrating the connection between the gear and the. rear wheel of a cycle. Fig. 5 is a side elevation representing the gear adjusted to such'a position as to give the minimum ratio between the speeds of the driving and driven parts. Fig. 6 is aside elevation, and Fig. 7 a part sectional end elevation',r'epresenting a modified form of the connection between the gear and the rear wheel of a cycle. Fig. 8 is a side elevation,'-and' Fig. 9 an end elevation,'representing my gear in another Fig. 10 is a side elevation, and Fig. 11 an end elevation, representing my gear in a'further combination-and in position for maximumspeed ratio and Fig. 12 is an end View showing the combination of antifriction-balls with the eccentric. Fig. 13 illustrates the combination shown at Figs. 10 and 11 in position for minimum speed ratio;

The same reference-letters in the'different views indicate the same parts.

In the application of my invention to a cycle such as illustrated'at Fig. 1 I secure upon the crank or driving shaft or spindle (indicated by the letter A in the detail views) in' the operating-clutches H H.

place of the ordinary chain-wheel employed in chain driving-gear an eccentric sheave B, and on the end of the bracket or bearing adjacent thereto I mount an adjusting worm wheel or block 0. The worm D upon the spindle D gears into the worm-block C, and

the worm-block C. One end of the lever E em- 7 braces the eccentric sheave B, while the opposite end is jointed to the pitman G. Thus on the revolution of the crank-shaft a reciprocatin g motion is imparted to the pitman G.

A slotted or shackle-like end G is provided at the rear part of the pitman G to receive Each of the clutches H H is mounted loosely upon rollers carried on the projection J from the rearwheel hub and is prevented from lateral displacement from'the slotted or shackle-like end G by the fixed flange J on the one side and the movable flange J on the opposite side. The flange J 2 is removed from the views at Figs. 2 and 5. The clutches each consist of a ring having an external flange at each side and a plain internal surface which rides upon the projecting boss J. Grooves or recesses, as J are formed in the boss J for the reception of the rollers, as illustrated at Figs. 2 and 5. V I

Within the slot or shackle end G of the pitman G, I secure a pair of wire or other flexible cords, as K K, one at the upper and the other at the lower side. One end of the cord K, Figs. 2, 4, and 5, is secured in any convenient manner to the shackle at a,and theopposite end is then passed completely around the clutch-ring H, Figs. 4 and 4 and after the cord is pulled tight throughout its length such end is secured to the shackle at b; In the same manner-the lower cord'Kis secured to the shackle and passes around the clutch-rin g clutch-ring II from its upper side the cord K is led around the clutelrring II from the under side, and thus as the pitman G is reciprocated the clutch-rings will be revolved in opposite directions.

011 the movement of the pitman G in the direction indicated by the arrow 1, Fig. 2, the clutch-ring H will be revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, causing its rollers to be retained against the shouldered ends of the grooves or recesses J and thus no motion will be imparted to the rear wheel; but at the same time the clutch-ring II will be revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 and its rollers will be moved away from the shouldered ends of the grooves or recesses and toward the narrow ends, and thus bybecoming wedged between the clutch-ring and the projecting boss J will lock the two parts and cause them to revolve together. On the reverse movement of the pitman G the clutchring II and the rear wheel will be revolved together in the direction of the arrow 3, while the clutch-ring II will revolve idly in the opposite direction. Thus by the continuous reciprocation of the pitman the driving-wheel will be constantly revolved in the required direction.

Each clutch-ring is provided with its own set of rollers, the ring L being interposed between them. The eye of the ring L is formed to suit the section of the projecting boss J.

The illustrations Figs. 2 and 3 show the lever E set in the position to give the maximum ratio between the speeds of the crank shaft and the rear or driving wheel of the bicycle for the particular pivot-eye which is mounted upon the pintle or pivot-pin of the link F. The position illustrated is suitable for pedaling the machine over a flat road or when only a moderate tractive force is required and the rider wishes the distance traveled by the machine to be the maximum multiple of the movement of the pedals.

The illustration Fig. 5 shows the lever E set in the position to give the minimum ratio between the speeds of the crank-shaft and the rear or driving wheel, the length of the reciprocating movement of the pitman G being now limited to twice the throw of the eccentric B. Such position is suitable for hillclimbing or when a considerable tractive force is required upon the driving-wheel.

The position of the lever E can be readily adjusted to any point between the speed position shown at Fig. 2 and the hill-climbing position shown at Fig. 5 by the operation of thehand-wheelD Fig. 1,and, as hereinbefore described, such operation can be effected by the rider without dismounting and while the machine is in motion.

The lever E can be pivoted upon the link F at any of the pivot-eyes e to suit the rider. By pivoting at the eye nearest to the crankshaft A the maximum possible ratio between the speeds of the crank and the driving-wheel will be obtained.

In the combination illustrated at Figs. (3 and 7 I dispense with the cord connection between the pitman and the clutches, as hereinbefore described, and provide teeth upon the exterior surfaces of the clutch-rings to engage with rack-teeth formed in the shackle end of the pitman, the rack-teeth, which are equal in width to one of the clutch-rings or one-half the width of the pitman, being arranged at the upper and lower sides, respectively, as illustrated at Figs. 6 and 7, in order to cause the clutch-rings to revolve in opposite directions.

In the combination shown at Figs. 8 and 9 the lever E is pivoted at its lower extremity and has its connection with the eccentric B between its two ends or extremities. The lever in this case is therefore a lover of the third kind, having the power or operating force applied between the fulcrum and the load or resistance to be overcome, whereas the lever in Figs. 2 and 3 is of the first kind, having the fulcrum between the operating force and the resistance.

In the combination illustrated by Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, on Sheet 3, the lever E is provided with a central aperture for the reception of the eecentric,which is made in two parts and has antifriction-balls carried in a retaining groove around its periphery, as illustrated in a large sectional view of a portion of the eccentric at Fig. 12. The lower end of the lever E is pivoted directly upon the projecting arm 0 from the worm-block O. \Vith such a combination the minimum horizontal or effective movement of the pitman G on the revolution of the eccentric is limited to the distance indicated at M, Fig. 13.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cycle driving-gear, the combination with the crank-shaft and driving-wheel, of an oscillating lever pivotally connected to the cycle-frame, a cam carried by the crank or driving shaft and directly engaging one end of said lever for oscillating the same, and a pitman extending from the opposite end of said oscillating lever to the hub of the drivin g-wheel and having a pawl-and-ratchet connection therewith, substantially as described.

2. In a cycle, the combination with the crank-shaft and driving-wheel, of the oscillating lever pivotally connected to the cycleframe, a cam carried by the crank-shaft directly engaging one end of said lever for oscillating the same, independent clutch-rings carried by the driving-wheel, and a pitman extending from the opposite end of the oscillating lever to said clutch-rings and having its upper side connected with one clutch-ring and its lower side connected with the other clutch-ring, substantially as described.

3. In a cycle, the combination with the ratchet connection with the driving-Wheel, crank-shaft and driving-Wheel, of the oscilsubstantially as described. 10 lating lever, the adjustable block carried by In witness whereof I have hereunto set my the cycle-frame, the lever having its fulcrum hand in presence of two witnesses.

5 connectedwith'said adjustable block, the LUOIEN STEPHEN CRANDALL.

cam carried by the crank-shaft for oscillating Witnesses: said lever, and the pitman extending" from EDWARD MARKS,

the oscillating lever and having a paWl-and- HERBERT BOWKETT. 

